Electrical connector



July l, 1969 R. NEIDECKER ELECTRICAL CONNEGTOR Z of 'Sheet Filed Nov. 5, 1966 Fig.-4 i

Rudolf Nedecker INVENTOR.

Filed Nov. 5. l966 Sheet 3 Jl lly l, 1969 R. NEID ECKER 3453587 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOB Rudolf Neidecker I N VEN TOR.

Attorney United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 339-256 11 Clams ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure is directed to an electrical connector for plug-and-jack couplings wherein a metallic conductor strip is provided with a multiplicity of resiliently deformable, substantially parallel tongues projecting inwardly of the strip by slitting the latter :and twisting the portion between the slits.

lMy present invention relates to `an electrical connector, i.e. a plug or a jack, for a coupling of the general type described in my U.S. Patents Nos. 3,086,109 (filed jointly -with Heinrich Hamm) and 3,161,45'1. A feature of such a connector is the presence thereon of a multiplicity of mechanically interconnected contact spring disposed in a tubular array around the connector axis for conductive engagement With the peripheral surface of a complementary connector member (jack or plug).

An electrical coupling of the character referred to, in which either the male or the female connector member exhibits such an array of contact springs, enables the transmission of a wide lrange of current amplitudes inasmuch as Ilarge currents distribute themselves substantially uniformly over the several springs whereas small currents encounter only a very low contact resistance. The prior constructions, however, were relatively bulky and required a rather elongated supporting structure for the secure guidance and safe -anchorage of the relatively movable contact Springs. These disadvantages were particularly noticeable in the case of multipole connectors, e.g. as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,275,967 to Erich Harnm.

The general object of my present invention, therefore, is to provide a connector member for an electrical coupling of the general type referred to, or for related purposes, which is of simplified construction and wherein especially the array of indvidually deformable contact springs is considerably more compact than in prior arrangements.

This object is realized, pursuant to my present invention, by the provision of a metallic conductor strip integrally provided With a multiplicity of resiliently deformable, substantially parallel tongues which constitute the aforementioned contact s-prings and project either inwardly `(in the case of a jack) or outwa-rdly (in the case of a plug), thus beyond the strip side which is remote from its supporting |body, for engagement With a complementary connector member.

A conductor strip of this character can be produced simply by slitting la flat metal strip of suitable conductivity and elasticity, preferably made of beryllium bronze,

Patented July l, 1969 lCe along lines trzansverse to the principal dimension of the strip so .as to form the tongues therebetween, these tongues |being left connected at their ends 'with the remainder of the strip and being plastically deformed out of its plane, e.g. by twisting. Advantageously, the slits have enlarged ends so as to reduce the connected extremities of each tongue, thereby facilitating the task of twisting each -tongue so as to make it project obliquely beyond both strip faces to form :a first set of edges designed to contact the supporting body and a second set of edges adapted to engage the complementary connector member.

The invention -will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in Which:

FIG. 1 is a face view of a slitted metal strip -adapted to form a conductive contact element in a connector according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-Sectional view taken on the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view (partly in section) of a jack incorporating a conductor strip as shown in FIGS. '1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view, partly in axial section, of a modified jack embodying the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. `4 illustrating a further modification;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a modified strip as utilzed in the connector of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-Sectional view of a multipole plugand-jack assembly according to the invention;

FIG. .8 is a fragmentary face view of yet another conductor strip according to the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a partial end view of the strip of FIG. 8 in its final form.

In FIGS. l and 2 I have illustrated a metal strip 6, e.g. of beryllium bronze, which is slitted transversely at 7 to form a multiplicity of tongues 5. These tongues are att-ached at their ends to marginal portions 9 of the strip and, as -best seen in FIG. 2, are inclined along their central portions at an angle of approximately 45 with reference to the two faces of the strip.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the strip 6 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is subsequently fitted into a tubular connector member or jack 1 so las to be held by its own resiliency against the inner periphery of that member. With this arrangement, the outer edges of the tongues 5 of the circularly bent strip 6 bear upon the inner periphery of the surrounding sleeve while the inner edges 8 are free to engage -a mating plug (not shown in this figure) which can be axially introduced into the jack 1. The length of the strip 6 is here so chosen that its ends just meet; these ends could, if desired, also be permanently nterconnected by butt or lap welding or soldering even though, in that event, the resilient contact force acting upon the inner sleeve periphery Would be somewhat reduced and would solely -be due to the elastic deformability of the tongues themselves.

Although the sleeve 1 could consist of either conductive or nonconductive material (e.g. rubber or synthetic resin), it is shown in FIG. 3 as made of metal which simplifies the task of conducting current to and away from the tongues 5 of -strip 6.

FIG. 4 shows a modified jack 1a whose 'body 3a is closed at one end and open at the other to receive a mating plug 2. The open end is defined by an annular shoulder 10 which, together with the closed end, helps retain the strips 6 in position, the cylindrical locus of the inner edges 8 (see FIG. 3) of the tongues having a radius slightly less than that of shoulder which forms the entrance bore for the plug 2. The relationship between the radius of the locus of edges 8 and the radius plug 2 determines, of course, the contact pressure exerted by the tongues 5 upon the plug after the latter has been introduced into the jack 1a. At its opposite end the jack iS integrally formed with a threaded boss 16 which may be screwed into a cable terminal, a mounting panel or any other structure designed to complete an electrical connection to the jack.

FIG. 5 illustrates a jack lb in the form of a sleeve 3b open at both ends and provided with a pair of annular shoulders 10', '10" around these ends, these shoulders defining entrance ports for a pair of substantially identical plugs 2', 2. A strip 6h, formed With two sets of oblique tongues 5', 5 respectively engageable with plugs 2', 2", is held in position between the shoulders 10', 10. Since the tubularbody 317 serves only as a link between two current-carrying conductors 2', 2, it need not be provided with any external circuit connection of its own and, as shown, may consist of insulating material.

The strip 6b of FIG. 5 has been shown, in its original flat form, in FIG. 6 which clearly illustrates the two parallel rows of tongues 5', 5 thereof.

In FIG. 7 I have illustrated a jack lc and a cooperating plug 2c separated from each other 'by an intervening strip conductor which may be physically carried on either the jack or the plug. This figure also illustrates a multipole connection, the tubular body of jack lc being peripherally subdivided into several conductive segments 3c separated by nonconductive segments 11, Whereas plug 2c similarly consists of conductive segements 17 alternating with nonconductive segments 18. The strip conductor separating jack 1c from plug 2c likewise consists of metal strip 6c separated by insulating inserts 19 which are cemented or otherwise secured to the adjoining strips 6a and register with the nonconductive segments 11 and 18 of the associated connector members. The proper relative angular position between the plug 2c and the jack 1c may be maintained by any suitable means, e.g. with the aid of radial tongues and grooves as illustrated in the aforementioned Hamm Patent No. 3,275,967.

Each of the paired conductive segments 3o, 17 forms part, together with the associated strip 6c, of an individual electric circuit having separate external connections, not shown, extending from the corresponding plug and jack portions. i

Whereas the tongues 5 etc. of the conductor strips shown in the precedng figures are of rectangular shape, so as to be twisted out of their common plane only in their central regions, I have illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 a conductor strip 6d whose slits 7d are widened at their ends to form larger gaps 12 between the tongues 5d which are thus bounded by curvilinear edges 13. The gaps 12 define relatively narrow necks at the extremities of the tongues 5d so as to facilitate their twisting into an oblique position as best seen in FIG. 9. Moreover, the shape of the curved edges 13 may be so chosen that these edges make extended contact with the surfaces of the two mating connector members to be engaged thereby, such as a plug 1d and a jack 2d whose confronting peripheries have been indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 8 and 9 also show that the strip 6d may be provided with crenellated longitudinal edges forming depressions 14 and projections 15 which latter may be bent over (dot-dash lines, FIG. 8) to grip a pair of axially spaced shoulders of the connector member to which the strip is to be permanently attached, eg. the plug 1d as shown by way of example in FIG. 9.

Naturally, the type of strip described in connection with FIGS. 8 and 9 may also be used in any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3-5 and 7; moreover, the slitted strip provided in accordance with this invention may be used on any connector member having a closed peripheral surface with substantially parallel generatrices, whether that surface be cylindrical (circularly or otherwise) or polygonal. These and other modifications, readily apparent to persons skilled in the art, are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector comprising a body with substantially parallel generatrices defining an annular surface, and a metallic conductor strip in contact with at least a major part of said surface, said conductor strip being integrally provided with a multiplicity of resiliently deformable, substantially parallel tongues constituting a tubular array and projecting 4beyond the side of said strip remote from said surface for engagement with a complementary connector member, said strip being formed with bent-over marginal portions along its longitudinal edges, said body being positively engaged by said bentover portions, said tongues being separated from one another by slits perpendicular to the principal dimension of said strip and being connected at both ends with said strip while projecting obliquely beyond 'both faces of the strip.

2. A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said tongues include with said faces an angle of approximately 45.

3. A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said slits have enlarged ends for reducing the extremities of each tongue.

4. A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said tongues are disposed on said strip in a plurality of transversely spaced parallel rows.

5. A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said strip consists of beryllium bronze.

6. An electrical connector comprising a body with substantially parallel generatrices defining an annular surface, and a metallic conductor strip in contact with at least a major part of said surface, said conductor strip being integrally provided with a mutiplicity of resiliently deformable, substantially parallel tongues constituting a tubular array and projecting 'beyond the side of said strip remote from said surface for engagement with a complementary connector member, said body being divided into interleaved metallic and nonconductive peripheral segments, said strip being split into peripheral portions separated from one another by insulating inserts registering with said nonconductive segments, said tongues being separated from one another by slits perpendicular to the principal dimension of said strip and being connected at both ensd With said strip while projecting obliquely beyond both faces of the strip.

7. A connector as defined in claim 6 wherein said tongues include with said faces an angle of approximately 45.

8. A connector as defined in claim 6 wherein said slits have enlarged ends for reducing the extremities of each tongue.

9. A connector as defined in claim 6 wherein vsaid tongues are disposed on said strip in a plurality of transversely spaced parallel rows.

10. A connector as defined in claim 6 wherein said strip consists of beryllium bronze.

11. An electrical connector adapted to receive a cylindrical plug, said connector comprising a metallic conductor strip of substantially cylindrical configuration and integrally and unitarily provided with a multiplicity of resiliently deformable, substantially parallel tongues constituting a cylindrical tubular array projecting inwardly for engagement with said plug, a pair of annular zones of said strip unitarily connecting same at opposite ends of said tubular array, said tongues being sepaated by slits extending along generatrices of the tubular array and being of a contour complementary to the contours of said tongues, said tongues being twisted from said strip and having arcuate contact edges cngagea'ble over substantially their entire lcntgh with said plugs.

5 6 z References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 1,901,894 3/1933 Burke 3s9 2ss x G a THJF 390 Ma 1'961 rm 1 lc 1 2,217,433 10/1940 cfabbs 339-457 X 5 e nprne app y 2,280,723 4/ 1942 Streib 339- 256 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examner.

2,380,916 8/1945 Beal 339-258 X I. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examner.

3,213,606 11/1965 Schultz 339-256 10 U S Cl X R 3,275,967 9/1966 Hamm 339 205 X 339-95 

